2026 surrender of IRIS Bushehr
On 5 March 2026, IRIS Bushehr surrendered itself in Sri Lanka, as the entire crew of 208 sailors was taken under custody.[1][2] Bushehr is a replenishment ship that was operating with IRIS Dena, as part of a patrol force in the Indian Ocean near Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the 2026 Iran war. Shortly after the United States Navy sunk IRIS Dena, the crew of Bushehr reported having mechanical problems. Acting under international maritime law, Sri Lanka took over control of the ship and the Iranian sailors, moving the ship to Sri Lankan naval facilities.
Background
On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran. The fighting escalated, affecting the Persian Gulf region, Indian Ocean, and major areas of the Middle East.[3][4][5] IRIS Dena, a frigate, and IRIS Bushehr, a replenishment ship, were part of a patrol force, tasked to the Indian Ocean for maritime presence.[6][7]
On 4 March 2026, Dena was attacked and sunk by the US submarine USS Charlotte near Sri Lanka. According to reports there were 180 sailors on board, 87 of its sailors were killed in the attack, 61 were reported missing and 32 were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy.[8][9]
Distress due to mechanical issues
Shortly after the US navy attack on Dena, Bushehr reported have mechanical problems. It then sent out distress signals contacting the Sri Lanka authorities, requesting entry to its waters near Colombo. The Sri Lanka government approved the request of the Iranian ship. According to reports it was done on humanitarian grounds, allowing it entry to the waters and docking. Sri Lanka's president stated the country must handle the situation according to international law, referring to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Crew surrender
According to reports, on 5 March 2026, the crew of Bushehr, comprising about 208 Iranian sailors surrendered to the Sri Lanka authorities, that then boarded the ship, escorting it to a safe port.[1][2][10] After the crew was disarmed, they was taken to naval facilities. There the crew received medical attention, processing and given temporary accommodation. A small technical crew remained on the ship for maintenance operation and inspection to resolve the reported mechanical problems under observation of Sri Lanka authorities, but none were found.[11][12]
Legal action
According to international maritime law, neutral countries are allowed to take in and hold warships belonging to another country that is at war. This is conditioned by the time period the warships stays at port or if the crew surrenders, giving up its weapons.[13][14][15] When Sri Lanka authorities granted Bushehr entry perdition to its waters, it cited its duty to follow the international neutrality principles and humanitarian maritime conventions.[16][17]
Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekera told Reuters on 11 March, that the 208 crew members were granted a 30-day entry visa to Sri Lanka.[18]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Crew of Iranian Ship Bushehr Surrenders to Sri Lankan Government". Militarnyi. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Iranian Support Vessel Bushehr Surrenders to Sri Lankan Authorities". UNITED24 Media. 6 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Ho, Vivian; Fulton, Adam; Ho (now), Vivian; Fulton (earlier), Adam (10 March 2026). "Middle East crisis live: Trump claims Iran war will be over 'very soon' but Tehran says it will determine when". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Liebermann, Oren; Liu, John; Pleitgen, Frederik; Yee, Isaac; Yeung, Jessie; Mogul, Rhea; Saifi, Sophia; Regan, Helen; Bae, Gawon; Lilieholm, Lucas; Whiteman, Hilary; Yang, Stephanie; Egan, Matt; Hudspeth Blackburn, Piper (10 March 2026). "Live updates: Iran's next supreme leader is named as oil prices soar". CNN. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Why did US and Israel attack Iran and how long could the war last?". www.bbc.com. 10 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Lariosa, Aaron-Matthew (5 March 2026). "Sri Lanka Interns Iranian Naval Vessel Following Sub Attack, European States Increase Middle East Naval and Air Deployments". USNI News. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian vessels: Sri Lanka's burden of neutrality and admirable legacy: Part 2 | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "US submarine sinks Iranian warship off Sri Lanka killing at least 80". The Independent. 4 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "IRIS Dena: The final voyage of the Iranian warship sunk by the US". www.bbc.com. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Mallawarachi, Bharatha (6 March 2026). "Sri Lanka takes custody of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sank an Iranian warship". AP News. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Crew of Iran navy vessel IRIS Bushehr flee to Sri Lanka, source says". www.iranintl.com. 8 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Intelligence assessment: Casualties and confusion grip Iran's internal security forces". 2026.
- ↑ kuwaitTimes (9 March 2026). "Stranded Iran sailors put Sri Lanka, India in diplomatic dilemma - kuwaitTimes". Kuwait Times. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Hague Convention (XIII) Respecting the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers in Naval War, U.S.T.S. 545, 2 A.J.I.L. Supp. 207, entered into force January 26, 1910". hrlibrary.law.umn.edu. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Equipo Nizkor - Hague Convention (XIII) on Neutral Powers in Naval War, 1907". www.derechos.org. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Stranded Iran sailors put Sri Lanka, India in diplomatic dilemma - kuwaitTimes". Kuwait Times. 9 March 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Sri Lanka to grant one-month free visas to rescued Iranians on humanitarian grounds". english.news.cn. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Ho, Vivian; Corlett, Eva; Ho (now), Vivian; Corlett (earlier), Eva (11 March 2026). "Middle East crisis live: New supreme leader 'safe' despite war injuries, says president's son; Iran retaliates as Israel pounds Lebanon". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
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